Support World Cafe Live’s music education programs for Philadelphia youth with a donation to our Music Futures Campaign today!

Music Futures Campaign

There is an indescribable energy in the venue during a Bridge Session at World Cafe Live. On a Tuesday morning in what would otherwise be a dark empty room, an electricity is generated that reverberates throughout the building when over 130 high schoolers join Arthur Thomas & The Funkitorium in celebrating “Voices of Protest” and the history and impact of funk music. The connection between artists and students in those moments is enough to draw you in regardless of your busy schedule, as you are instantly reminded of the unifying power of live music.

Providing free, unique musical opportunities for Philadelphia youth is what World Cafe Live is all about. Throughout the school year, we reach over 4,500 students with our music education programs, both in schools and at our venue, led by an incredible roster of local teaching artists.

In the past, WCL supported these programs with our annual Kids Count Campaign. We have refreshed this spring fundraiser to highlight our commitment to inspiring the next generation of artists. So today, we ask you to join us by advancing Music Futures.

We need to raise $60,000 by May 31st to support our education programs. Every dollar donated during this campaign will go directly towards enriching opportunities for Philadelphia youth. Thank you for making your gift today to ensure more futures are filled with music as a bridge to new possibilities.

Learn more about the programs that your contributions support!

BRIDGE SESSIONS

We create immersive learning experiences for thousands of Philly public school students annually, welcoming field trips to the venue for our signature Bridge Sessions with local teaching artists. Our spring season kicked off with Voices of Protest led by Arthur Thomas & The Funkitorium, exploring how music intersects with social justice through performance and hands-on participation.

RESIDENCIES & WORKSHOPS

We work directly with Philadelphia public schools to develop unique residencies & workshops, designed to deepen learning and prioritize skills such as creativity, collaboration, and communication. Our teaching artists are currently in residence at three Freire Charter Schools, engaging students in workshops focused on music production, songwriting, rhythm, music entrepreneurship, and music history.

COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS

We specialize in working with local arts and community organizations to create unique engagement opportunities. Past partners include PAFA, Opera Philadelphia, Mighty Writers, and more. This year, we launched a new free monthly series at WCL in collaboration with The School District of Philadelphia’s MIC’d Up program called Up Next! Youth Jam Sessions.